Methods and apparatus for purifying liquid using regenerating heat exchange

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for liquid purification using regenerating heat exchange are disclosed. An apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a liquid receptacle, a heat exchanger, a heating mechanism, a compressor, and a condenser. While the liquid receptacle is able to receive a stream of liquid such as water, a heat exchanger pushes the liquid through the heat exchanger to increase temperature of the liquid. The heating mechanism is capable of facilitating phase transition of the liquid from liquid to vapor. The compressor is operable to guide the vapor and the condenser is configured to condense the vapor into liquid or purified liquid.

PRIORITY

This patent application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/214,114, entitled “Method and Apparatusfor Purifying Liquid Using Regenerating Heating Exchange,” filed on Aug.19, 2011, of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD

The exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention relates topurification process. More specifically, the exemplary embodiment(s) ofthe present invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquid orwater purification.

BACKGROUND

Clean water is critical to all life forms including humans or animal onthis planet. With enhanced technology and information technology inrecent years, demand of consumable drinking water or high qualitydrinkable water is steadily increasing across the globe. For example,readily available clean drinkable water can reduce disease, epidemic,poverty, and/or conflict throughout the world. With increasing worldpopulation and finite amount of clean water, demand of high qualityclean water will continue in the future.

The standards for drinking water are typically set by governments, localauthorities, or industry associations, and such standards typically setlimits of maximum amount of contaminants that could have in the waterbut still safe for human consumption. To provide clean water, variouswater purification techniques have been developed over the years. Forexample, conventional purification systems include carbon filtration,membrane filtration, chlorination, ion exchange, oxidation, and/orreverse osmosis. A drawback associated with such techniques is thatconventional purification techniques may require numerous treatmentsteps in order to be able to remove contaminants, such as livingorganisms, bacteria, viruses, arsenic, lead, and mercury.

A typical approach to solve the conventional purification system is touse vapor distillation process to purify water. A problem associatedwith a typical water distiller is that they are large, costly, andinefficient. For example, a conventional water distiller consumes largeamount of energy such as electricity to produce small amount clean ordistilled water. Another problem associated with a typical household orlaboratory water distiller is that it takes hours to produce one gallonof clean water.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus for liquid purification using regenerating heatexchange are disclosed. An apparatus or heat reclaim purification(“HRP”) system, in one embodiment, includes a liquid receptacle, a heatexchanger, a heating mechanism, a compressor, and a condenser. Theliquid receptacle, in one example, is able to receive a stream of liquidsuch as water. The heat exchanger is configured to push or force thereceived stream of liquid through the heat exchanger to preheat orincrease the temperature of the incoming cold liquid. The heatingmechanism is capable of facilitating phase transition from liquid tovapor. While the compressor is operable to guide the vapor through thecondenser, the condenser condenses the vapor into liquid or purifiedliquid before it leaves the apparatus.

Additional features and benefits of the exemplary embodiment(s) of thepresent invention will become apparent from the detailed description,figures and claims set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be understoodmore fully from the detailed description given below and from theaccompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which,however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specificembodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only.

FIGS. 1A-C are diagrams illustrating an exemplary heat profile during aliquid purification process in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2-3 are diagrams illustrating configurations of blades or flutesfor condensation in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of a turbine andcondenser blades for liquid purification process in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section view of liquidpurification apparatus or system in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a cutaway perspective view of a liquidpurification system using a heat regenerative mechanism in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a logic block diagram illustrating an exemplary process ofpurifying liquid using heat regenerative mechanism in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate alternative designs or configurations tomanufacture blades or flutes to achieve optimal heat exchange and vaporcondensation in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 10-13 illustrate alternative configurations of vapor condensersincluding multiple flutes or blades assemblies in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a cross section view of a mainassembly capable of regenerating or reclaiming heat from processedliquid to achieve optimal energy efficiency in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary heat exchanger capable of reclaimingheat from processed liquid in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of a main assembly configured to processliquid using heat regenerative mechanism in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a process of liquid purificationusing heat regenerative mechanism in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention is described herein inthe context of a method, device, and apparatus for liquid processingusing heat regenerative mechanism achieving optimal energy efficiency.

Those of ordinary skills in the art will realize that the followingdetailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) is illustrative onlyand is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments willreadily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit ofthis disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementationsof the exemplary embodiment(s) as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout thedrawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same orlike parts.

In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of theimplementations described herein are shown and described. It will, ofcourse, be understood that in the development of any such actualimplementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be madein order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliancewith application- and business-related constraints, and that thesespecific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from onedeveloper to another. Moreover, it will be understood that such adevelopment effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those ofordinary skills in the art having the benefit of embodiment(s) of thisdisclosure.

Various embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawingsmay not be drawn to scale. Rather, the dimensions of the variousfeatures may be expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some ofthe drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may notdepict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., device) ormethod.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. The term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The term “system” is used generically herein to describe any number ofmechanical components, elements, sub-systems, devices, units,assemblies, mechanisms, or combinations of components thereof. The term“circuits,” “computer,” “integrated circuits,” “electrical controller,”“optical sensors,” or “sensors,” may include a processor, memory, andbuses capable of executing instruction wherein the computer refers toone or a cluster of computers, personal computers, or combinations ofcomputers thereof. The term “purifying” is used generically herein todescribe reducing or altering concentration of one or more contaminantsto a specified range.

Embodiments of the present invention discloses a liquid or waterpurification apparatus capable of purifying liquid or water usingregenerative heat exchanger. The apparatus includes a liquid receptacle,a heat exchanger, a heating mechanism, a compressor, and a condenser.The liquid receptacle, for example, is able to receive a stream ofliquid such as water or liquor. In one embodiment, the liquid receptacleincludes a water-input receptacle capable of receiving a flow or streamof water from an external device. The stream of water, for example, ispressurized having a range from two (2) pounds per square inch (“PSI”)to 500 PSI. The water has a molecular structure of one oxygen and twohydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds (“H₂O”).

The heat exchanger, in one aspect, pushes or forces the received streamof liquid through the heat exchanger to preheat or increase thetemperature of the liquid via at least a portion of processed liquid.The heat exchanger further includes a top or main heat exchanger and abottom heat exchanger. While the top heat exchanger is configured topreheat incoming water with the purified water, the bottom heatexchanger preheats incoming water with the discarded water.Alternatively, the top heat exchanger is also configured to extract heatfrom purified water with incoming water before the purified water leavesthe apparatus. The bottom heat exchanger cools down discarded water withincoming water before the discarded water leaves the apparatus as wastewater.

The heating mechanism generates heat to facilitate phase transition fromliquid to vapor. In one embodiment, the heating mechanism has a heaterconfigured to heat water to a boiling point to separate purified waterfrom impurities. The heating mechanism includes a heater, such as aburner, a magnetic inductance heat generator, resistance heatingelement, et cetera.

The compressor guides or forces the vapor through the condenser, whereinthe compressor includes a turbine operable to create a directional vaporwhirlpool inside of a boiler to force the vapor into the condenser. Inone embodiment, the compressor creates a vacuum to alter the boilingpoint for the liquid or water to speed up the separation of purifiedwater from incoming water.

The condenser condenses vapor into liquid or purified liquid before itleaves the apparatus. The condenser further includes a set of blades orflutes wherein each blade is shaped in such a way that it optimizesliquid condensation from vapor to purified water. In one embodiment, theliquid purification apparatus also includes a housing which isconfigured to house the heat exchanger which is configured to fit boththe compressor and condenser in the middle of heat exchanger.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary heat profile ortemperature profile during a liquid purification process in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram illustrates across-section side view of a heat reclaim purification (HRP) system 100capable of processing or purifying liquid, such as water, or any otherliquid that could be purified by distillation process. HRP system 100includes a condenser 110 having an input port 101 and an output port 102wherein input port 101 receives gas such as water vapor while outputport 102 releases processed liquid such as purified water. It should benoted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of thepresent invention would not change if one or more components (or blocks)were added to or removed from diagram 100.

FIG. 1A illustrates a computer simulated heat or temperature profile ofHRP system 100 during a water purification process using regenerativeheat exchanger wherein the water vapor or vapor enters input port 101.In one embodiment, when water vapor is being rushed or forced intocondenser 110 as a fast moving vapor jet or stream via a compressor, notshown in FIG. 1A, the fast moving vapor creates a directional vaporwhirlpool 108 inside the condenser. The heat profile illustrates a mainstream of directional vapor jet 105 moving from input port 101 to outputport 102. The warmest or hottest area of the heat profile, in oneaspect, is indicated by numeral 104 while the coolest area is indicatedby numeral 103. In one aspect of the present invention, condenser 110 isable to produce purified water in accordance with the heat profile, andis capable of recapturing, regenerating, or reclaiming heat (or energy)released from phase transition between vapor and liquid. For example,vapor stream entering from input port 101 and exiting output port 102 asliquid gives off heat during the phase transition.

A regenerative heat exchanger facilitates two flows or streams of fluidor liquid such as coming water and exiting purified water to flowthrough a heat exchanger in logically opposite direction or in aconfiguration of countercurrent exchanger. The heat exchanger havingcomponents, such as pipes, tubes, and/or channels, is able to maintaintwo moving flows separated while physically adjacent with each other tofacilitate heat exchange. The heat or temperature profile may remain ata nearly constant temperature which includes the entering flow (cold orambient water) and exiting flow at each end. In regenerative heatexchangers, in one example, uses a cyclical and/or repetitive treatmentor process to preheat the incoming cold water via heat released by theprocessed water. The processed water includes purified water anddiscarded water. The discarded water is also known as waste water whichcontains relatively high concentration of impurities.

To operate, incoming cold water enters the heat exchanger and ispreheated by heat extracted from processed water exiting the heatexchanger. The regenerative heat exchanger is able to conserve energysince a large amount of the heat energy is reclaimed or recaptured in athermodynamically reversible way. Depending on the applications, theheat exchanger can have a range of thermal efficiency from 50% to 95% bytransferring heat energy from a hot directional water flow to a colddirectional water flow.

To condense vapor into purified water in accordance with the heatprofile as illustrated in FIG. 1A, condenser 110 employs multiple bladesor flutes 106 according to main stream of directional vapor jet 105 asillustrated in FIG. 1B. In one embodiment, blade 106 includes vaporsection 116, phase changing section 118, and liquid section 120, whereinthe phase changing section 118 releases heat since the water moleculegives off energy when it transforms its physical formation from vapor(or gas formation) to liquid (or fluid formation). Depending on theapplications, the shape of blade or flutes 106 may change in accordancewith the vapor jet. It should be noted that the term “blade” and “flute”are used interchangeably herein. Also, the term “vapor” and “watervapor” are used interchangeably herein.

Water is a chemical substance having a chemical formula H₂O wherein itsmolecule structure contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connectedby covalent bonds. Depending on the temperature, water can be indifferent physical formation. For example, water is in a liquidformation at ambient or room temperature. Water is in vapor, steam, gas(or gaseous) formation when the temperature is at or above water'sboiling point. It should be noted that the description uses water and/orwater vapor as an exemplary chemical substance and the underlyingconcept of HRP system 100 is applicable to any other chemical substancescapable of changing their physical formation in view of their boilingpoints as well as environmental pressure.

The boiling point of a chemical substance such as water is a temperaturewherein vapor pressure of fluid is similar to surrounding orenvironmental pressure over the fluid or liquid. If the chemicalsubstance in its liquid formation such as water, it has a lower boilingpoint in a low pressure or vacuum environment than when the water is atatmospheric pressure. Similarly, water or liquid has a higher boilingpoint in a high pressure surrounding than the water is at atmosphericpressure. As such, different chemical substance having differentchemical compounds possesses different boiling points. Accordingly, thefluctuation of boiling point for a particular chemical substance such aswater is a function of temperature and pressure.

FIG. 1C is a diagram 150 illustrating a top view of the diagram in FIG.1A showing an exemplary heat profile during a liquid purificationprocess in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Withrespect to diagram 100, input port 101 is situated on the top ofcondenser 110 at the lower left corner while output port 102 is situatedat the bottom of upper right corner of condenser 110. A directionalsteam or vapor jet 152 is formed whereby pressurized vapor jet enteringinput port 101 and exiting output port 102 according to a vapor flowtraveling path 155. In one aspect, the heat exchange occurs at area 154which is generally the hottest/warmest spot in the directional vapor jet152. It should be noted that converting water into vapor requiressufficient energy required to vaporize water into vapor.

FIG. 2 illustrates condenser 110 having a blade 106 configured inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The shape ofblade 106 is structured and/or configured in accordance with the shapeof directional vapor jet 105 as shown in FIG. 1A. Blade 106 includes aninput port 101 and an output port 102. Depending on the applications,the shape of blade 106 may vary. For example, a narrow section 203-204of blade 106 may change depending on volume and speed of vapor flow.FIG. 3 illustrates a three dimensional (“3D”) view of blade 106 withinput port 101. In one aspect, the area pointed by numeral 304 is thewarmest area while the area pointed by numeral 303 is the coolest in thecondenser.

FIG. 4 is an isometric diagram 400 illustrating a turbine and condenserblades for liquid purification process in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. Diagram 400 shows a structural layout betweena turbine 405, multiple blades 404, and a flow guide 406. Turbine 405,in one embodiment, includes a motor and turbine blades configured tocreate a vacuum or low pressure area in the vicinity of flow guide 406.The motor and turbine blades, for example, can be fabricated by anyapplicable materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, plastic,polymer, alloy, ceramic, and/or a combination of one or more ofaluminum, stainless steel, plastic, polymer, alloy, and ceramic. Theturbine provides a vacuum area above the incoming liquid (water) andreduces the boiling point of the liquid. The turbine acts as acompressor lowering the pressure whereby reducing boiling point of theliquid. A top plate 401 is used to anchor and/or secure turbine 405 aswell as blades or flutes 404.

Flow guide 406, which may be in a cone shape, is configured in such away that it creates and guides a directional vapor whirlpool betweenheat source, not shown in FIG. 4, and turbine 405 in response to thevacuum generated by turbine 405. During an operation, upon creation ofthe vacuum, one or more directional vapor flows are generated inaccordance with the directional vapor whirlpool. The directional vaporflows are subsequently guided, pushed, and/or forced into input ports402-403 of blades or flute 404. When vapor flows are highly compressedand pass through narrow portions of flutes 404, the physical phasetransition takes place as vapor flows are condensed into purified water.The heat or energy released as a result of phase transition is added tothe heat source to generate more vapors. Note that turbine 405 and flowguide 406 are at least part of compressor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram 500 illustrating a cross-section view of liquidpurification apparatus or HRP system in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. Diagram 500 includes a main boiler 502, bottomboiler-collector 508, upper-manifold 509, center-manifold 506, andlower-manifold 507, wherein the manifolds are used to separate bottomboiler-collector 508 from main boiler 502. In one embodiment, mainboiler 502 is used to process or produce purified water while bottomboiler-collector 508 is used to process or discard the waste water,substances with impurities, and/or discarded water. It should be notedthat the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of thepresent invention would not change if one or more components (or blocks)were added to or removed from diagram 500.

Upper-manifold 509 is coupled to turbine 503, blades 404, and flow guide406. A function of upper-manifold 509 is to distribute vapor flows frommain boiler 502 to blades 404 via various manifold channels 504 aftervapor 501 is drawn up by turbine 503 from the bottom of main boiler 502near the heat source to the top of main boiler 502. In an alternativeembodiment, a compressor, which includes turbine 503 and flow guild 406,is coupled to upper-manifold 509 to create a vacuum area near the top ofmain boiler 502 for generating a directional vapor whirlpool.

The vapor flows are pressurized and condensed at the narrow regions ofcondenser blades 404 around epic center 505 which is the area that heatexchange occurs. In one aspect, epic center 505 is hottest or warmestarea in main boiler 502. Epic center 505 is created when pressurizedvapor flows through narrow portions of flutes 404 and the physical phasetransition takes place around epic center 505. When vapor is condensedinto purified water, heat or energy is released as a result of phasetransition.

FIG. 6A is a diagram 600 illustrating a cutaway perspective view of HRPsystem using a heat regenerative mechanism in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. Diagram 600 includes turbine 503,flow guide 406, blades 404, heat exchanger 601, bottom heat exchanger606, and a housing 607, wherein housing 607 houses all components of HRPsystem. In one aspect, the cut-open areas 605 of blades 404 are the epiccenter where larger amount of heat is generated by the phase transitionor heat exchange. Heat exchanger 601 is used to extract heat frompurified water as it flows out of the HRP system. The extracted heat isused to preheat the coming water. Bottom heat exchanger 606 is used toextract heat from waste water or liquid containing high concentration ofimpurities. Again, the extracted heat from the waste water is used topreheat the incoming cold water. The Housing is the outer element of theheat exchangers 607 which is comprised of double-walled, vacuumedelement. The housing element is used to provide mechanical and structuresupport for enclosed components, and also acts as a thermal energyrectifier and retainer.

FIG. 6B is a logic block diagram 650 illustrating an exemplary processof purifying liquid using heat regenerative mechanism in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention. Diagram 650, which can beimplemented in HRP system, includes a first heat exchanger 654, secondheat exchanger 656, boiler 658, compressor 660, and condenser 662. Inone aspect, first heat exchanger 654 is the main or top heat exchangersituated around the main boiler and second heat exchanger 656 is thebottom heat exchanger situated around the bottom boiler. It should benoted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of thepresent invention would not change if one or more blocks were added toor removed from diagram 650.

In operation, when incoming water passes through a pump 652, theincoming water flows through both heat exchangers 654-656 to bepreheated by the processed water. After flowing through heat exchangers654-656, incoming water flows into boiler 658 to convert from water tosteam or vapor via a heat source or a burner. Compressor 660 pushes orforces converted steam or vapor into condenser 662. The heavy (or waste)water or water containing high concentration of impurities flows back toheat exchangers 654-656 via channels 664 before it is being discardedvia channel 670. Condenser 662 converts steam or vapor back into liquidor purified water and subsequently guides the purified water back toheat exchanger 654-656 via channels 666. Exchangers 654-656 extractsheat from purified water before allowing the purified water to exit theHRP system via channel 668.

It should be noted that, in addition to purifying water or liquid,exemplary process of purifying liquid using heat regenerative mechanismillustrated in FIG. 6B is applicable to any liquid substancepurification process that uses vacuum, pressure and temperature as acontrols of the environment for vapor condensation phase distillation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram 700 illustrating an alternative design orconfiguration of blades or flutes to achieve optimal heat exchange andvapor condensation in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Diagram 700 shows three (3) blades 705-707 wherein thedistance between the points indicated by numeral 708-709 is applicationdependent. The line 720 indicates an area for phase transition betweensteam and water. FIG. 8 illustrates a 3D perspective view showing ablade which is similar to the blade shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates alternative designs or configurations to blades orflutes to achieve optimal heat exchange and vapor condensation inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment,blades 404 shown in FIG. 9 includes one or more features 903-904 toreinforce the structure of blades especially if the blade is made ofthin and pliable material such as stainless steel or titanium or alloyare used. The feature is to aid and to retain the shape of the profileof the blade. Structural reinforcements by features 903-904 may benecessary to maintain the configuration of blades which are undercontinuous fluctuation of pressure and temperature. Fine elementanalysis produces improved performance of mechanical stability whentemperature and pressure changes occur. It should be noted that theshape of blades illustrated in FIG. 9 is different from the shape ofblades illustrated in FIG. 8. Depending on the applications, oneconfiguration can have better results (more efficient) than anotherconfiguration.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration of vapor condensersincluding six (6) flutes or blades in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 10 shows diagram 1002 containing six flutesassembly and diagram 1004 illustrating a cross-section view of diagram1002 in accordance with section line A-A. It should be noted that areaspointed by numeral 10.1-10.4 are location(s) where phase transitionoccurs.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary configuration of vapor condensersincluding nine (9) flutes assemblies in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 11 shows diagram 1102 containing nineflutes assembly and diagram 1104 illustrating a cross-section view ofdiagram 1102 in accordance with section line A-A. It should be notedthat areas pointed by numeral 11.1-11.4 are locations where phasetransition occurs.

FIGS. 12-13 illustrate an exemplary configuration of vapor condensersincluding twelve (12) flutes assembly in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 12 shows diagram 1202 containing nineflutes assembly and diagram 1204 illustrating a cross-section view ofdiagram 1202 in accordance with section line A-A. It should be notedthat areas pointed by numeral 12.1-12.4 are locations where phasetransition occurs. FIG. 13 illustrates a 3D view of vapor condensershaving twelve (12) flutes assembly. Note that numeral 13.1 points themiddle section of the boiler.

FIG. 14 is a diagram 1400 illustrating a cross-section view of a mainassembly or HRP system capable of regenerating or reclaiming heat fromprocessed liquid to achieve optimal energy efficiency in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention. Diagram 1400 includes a turbine1402, main boiler 502, cover 1410, heat exchanger 1430, bottom heatexchanger 1432, directional heater 1416, and heat source 1420. Turbine1402, in one aspect, further includes a motor 1406 and a turbine blade1404. It should be noted that the underlying concept of the exemplaryembodiment(s) of the present invention would not change if one or morecomponents (or blocks) were added to or removed from diagram 1400.

In one embodiment, heat exchanger 1430 and bottom heat exchanger 1432are interconnected wherein heat exchanger 1430 uses multiple pipesand/or tubes to extract heat from purified water when it passes throughheat exchanger 1430. Bottom heat exchanger 1432 also employs varioustubes to extract heat from waste water when it passes through bottomheat exchanger 1432. The heat exchanger 1430-1432 includes at least twoindependent sets of tubes or pipes 1436-1438 allowing incoming waterwhich is cold to occupy one set of tubes while allowing processed waterwhich is hot to occupy another set of tubes. Heat exchanger 1430-1432further includes entrances 1418 capable of accepting processed waterfrom the condenser to the heat exchanger.

Heat source 1420, which can be powered by electricity, solar, windpower, gasoline, or mechanical manual power generator, is coupled withheat guide 1416 to convert water molecules from liquid formation tovapor formation. A function of posts 1414 is to anchor variouscomponents. It should be noted that HRP system 1400 may includeadditional electronic components at bottom boiler 508. In oneembodiment, liquid receptacle 1439 includes a water-input receptaclecapable of receiving a flow or stream of water from an external device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram 1500 illustrating an exemplary heat exchanger flowprofile showing heat reclaiming process from processed liquid inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram 1500includes a turbine, a boiler 502, a top heat exchanger 1430, and abottom heat exchanger 1432. The turbine includes a turbine blade 1404and a nut 1504 wherein the turbine provides a vacuum above the incomingwater to reduce the boiling point of the incoming water. The incomingwater is preheated by the heat extracted from the processed water beforeit exits the HRP system. In one embodiment, the processed water orliquid is channeled by one or more pumps scattered across the heatexchanger(s) wherein the pumps, in one embodiment, are powered bypressurized incoming water. Note that the liquid is on the outside ofthe heat exchange tubes and the vapor and condensed liquid is on theinside of the heat exchanger tubes. It should be noted that theunderlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the presentinvention would not change if one or more components (or blocks) wereadded to or removed from diagram 1500.

FIG. 16 is a diagram 1600 illustrating an exploded view of a mainassembly or HRP system configured to process liquid using heatregenerative mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. Diagram 1600 shows boiler 502, bottom boiler 508, heatexchanger 1430, and bottom exchanger 1432, wherein boiler 502 and bottomboiler 508 are structured such that they can fit inside of heatexchanger 1430-1432.

In one aspect, HRP system includes a boiler, turbine, condenser, heatexchanger, and feed pump(s). The system operates under the principles ofthe Regenerative cycle. The condenser exchanges heat with water in theboiler, and the heat exchanger acts to preheat incoming water, whilecooling outbound processed and waste water. In an operation, waterenters the boiler where it is heated past the critical point, and steamis generated. The turbine draws a vacuum in the boiler and forces thesteam through a manifold and through the condenser. Since the boilingpoints of impurities normally found in water are higher than the boilingpoint of water, the water vapor is assumed to be pure as it flowsthrough the turbine. The mechanism of injecting water into the boiler,in one example, promotes rotational flow within the main body, shapingthe flow as it approaches the turbine.

Additionally, the configuration of the blades in the condenser is suchthat heat transfer back into the bulk media is at a maximum byoptimizing the level of wetted surface area. The shape of the blades andtheir configuration also serves to smooth flow of steam through theboiler and into the turbine. The flow of purified water through thecondenser splits into 1 of 2 intake manifolds, each one serving arespective bank of condenser blades. The manifolds feed into identicalcounter flow heat exchangers, which use incoming feed water as the coldworking fluid, and exiting purified and exiting waste water as the hotworking fluid. The use of symmetry is meant to promote optimalefficiency by precisely managing the thermal gradient within the controlvolume. The shape of the blades is aimed to correspond with the proposedwater fill line. This entire system is wrapped by a skin of stainlesssteel, and the heat exchangers will be placed on either side of thecondenser banks.

The exemplary aspect of the present invention includes variousprocessing steps, which will be described below. The steps of the aspectmay be embodied in machine or computer executable instructions. Theinstructions can be used to cause a general purpose or special purposesystem, which is programmed with the instructions, to perform the stepsof the exemplary aspect of the present invention. Alternatively, thesteps of the exemplary aspect of the present invention may be performedby specific hardware components that contain hard-wired logic forperforming the steps, or by any combination of programmed computercomponents and custom hardware components.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a process of liquid purificationusing heat regenerative mechanism in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. At block 1702, a process capable of implementingregenerative heat exchange receives a stream of cold water from anexternal device, such as a municipal water supply company, river, well,pond, reservoir, or the like. Upon activating heat extracting pumps inresponse to water pressure provided by the stream of cold water, theprocess pushes or pumps purified water through the heat exchanger fortransferring or extracting heat from purified water to the stream ofcold water. The process also pushes or forces the discarded liquid suchas waste water through the heat exchanger to extracting heat from thediscarded liquid to preheat the stream of water.

At block 1704, when the stream of cold water enters the heat exchangerfor preheating as the stream passes through the heat exchanger, water inthe stream is heated to its boiling point when it reaches to the epiccenter. At block 1706, the stream of water is separated between purifiedwater and waste water by converting a portion of water into vapor. Atblock 1708, a directional vapor whirlpool is generated inside of aboiler to push the vapor into a set of flutes for condensation.

At block 1710, the flutes or blades in the condenser condense vapor intopurified water. The process forces the vapor through a set of angularshaped flutes capable of facilitating regenerating heat exchange betweenthe angular shaped flutes. The purified water is subsequently pumpedinto the heat exchanger for heat extracting. The heat extracting or heatexchange occurs when hot pipes or tubes in the heat exchanger carryinghot purified water pass adjacent to cold pipes or tubes in the heatexchanger carrying the stream of cold water wherein the heat extractedfrom purified water preheats the incoming cold water. The hot wastewater, on the other hand, is allowed to flow into the heat exchanger forheat extracting or heat reclaiming process. The heat reclaiming processoccurs when hot pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the waste waterpass adjacent to cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the stream ofcold water. Upon activating heat extracting pumps in response to waterpressure provided by the stream of water, the purified water is pushedthrough the heat exchanger for transferring heat from the purified waterto the stream of water. The discarded liquid is also pumped through theheat exchanger for preheating the stream of water.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those of skills in the art thatbased upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this exemplary embodiment(s) of the presentinvention and its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims areintended to encompass within their scope all such changes andmodifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this exemplaryembodiment(s) of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of water purification using regenerativeheat exchange, comprising: receiving a stream of water from an externaldevice; forcing the stream of water into a heat exchanger to preheat thewater as it passes through the heat exchanger; heating the water to itsboiling point and converting the water from its liquid phase to vaporphase; generating a directional vapor whirlpool inside of a boiler topush the vapor into a plurality of flutes for condensation; andcondensing the vapor into purified water via the plurality of flutes. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising pumping the purified waterinto the heat exchanger for heat extracting when a plurality of hotpipes in the heat exchanger carrying the purified water pass adjacent toa plurality of cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the stream ofwater.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing waste waterto flow into the heat exchanger for heat extracting when a plurality ofhot pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the waste water pass adjacentto a plurality of cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the streamof water.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a stream of waterincludes activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps in response towater pressure provided by the stream of water.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps includespushing the purified water through the heat exchanger for transferringheat from the purified water to the stream of water.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein activating a plurality of heat extracting pumpsincludes pushing discarded liquid through the heat exchanger forpreheating the stream of water.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereincondensing the vapor into purified water includes forcing the vaporthrough a plurality of angular shaped flutes capable of facilitatingregenerating heat exchange between the plurality of angular shapedflutes.
 8. A method for purifying liquid using regenerative heatexchange, comprising: increasing temperature of a stream of liquid in amain boiler and converting at least a portion of the stream from liquidto a directional vapor whirlpool (“DVW”); facilitating the DVW risingfrom lower portion of the main boiler to upper portion of the mainboiler; redirecting the DVW downward direction from the upper portion ofthe main boiler toward a plurality of angular shaped flutes; pushing theDVW into the plurality of angular shaped flutes in response to anactivation of a compressor; and condensing at least a portion of the DVWinto a stream of purified liquid at narrower sections of the pluralityof the angular shaped flutes.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: allowing the stream of purified liquid to exit the pluralityof the angular shaped flutes; and guiding the stream of purified liquidto enter a heat exchanger for heat extracting.
 10. The method of claim9, further comprising transferring heat from a plurality of hot pipes inthe heat exchanger carrying the stream of purified liquid to a pluralityof cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying a stream of incomingliquid.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving astream of water from an external supply; and guiding the stream of waterinto the heat exchanger to preheat the water as it passes through theheat exchanger.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a streamof water includes activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps inresponse to water pressure provided by the stream of water.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein activating a plurality of heat extractingpumps includes pushing the purified water through the heat exchanger fortransferring heat from the purified water to the stream of water. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein activating a plurality of heatextracting pumps includes pushing discarded liquid through the heatexchanger for preheating the stream of water.
 15. A liquid purificationapparatus, comprising: a plurality of angular shaped flutes arranged insuch a way that contains a top cavity and a bottom cavity, wherein eachof the plurality of angular shaped flutes is configured to have largeropenings at two ends of a flute with a relatively narrower body tofacilitate vapor condensation; a directional heater situated at thebottom cavity of the plurality of angular shaped flutes and configuredto generate a directional vapor whirlpool in response to a stream ofincoming liquid; and a turbine receiving a stream of water from anexternal device; forcing the stream of water into a heat exchanger topreheat the water as it passes through the heat exchanger; heating thewater to its boiling point and converting the water from its liquidphase to vapor phase; generating a directional vapor whirlpool inside ofa boiler to push the vapor into a plurality of flutes for condensation;and condensing the vapor into purified water via the plurality offlutes.